title: Challenges in volunteering from cancer care volunteers perspectives.
abstract: The involvement of non-government organizations (NGOs) and support groups has helped strengthen public health services in addressing cancer care burden. Owing to the contribution of volunteers in cancer care, this article documents a qualitative study that examined challenges in attracting and retaining cancer care volunteers as part of the effort to develop a volunteer recruitment model. Data were collected through three focus group discussions involving 19 cancer support group members in Malaysia. Findings of the study revealed that mobility and locality appeared to be significant in Malaysian context, while the need for financial support and time flexibility are challenges faced by cancer support groups to attract and retain volunteers. The findings imply that cancer care initiatives can benefit from more local volunteers but at the same time these volunteers require flexibility and financial support to sustain their engagement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia E-mail : kauthar.kamaludin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kauthar Mohamad
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kamaludin
authors.forename: Mazanah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Nor Wahiza Abdul
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Wahat
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*